"Double Grace"
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
November 1, 2011

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ZADOK PUBLICATIONS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

November 1, 2011

"Double Grace"

"The more grace Christians have, the more clearly they can see the contrast between holiness and sin. This will necessarily lead them to pray more often, earnestly, and fervently, give them a disrelish for the vanities of the world, and a sincere and hearty desire to devote all they have to Christ and to serve Him entirely." - Ann "Nancy" Judson

Introduction:
A few weeks ago, Beverly Davis called from Kerrville, Texas, and said, "Why don't you write a book on 'Grace'?" I retorted that she should write the book, since she was the one studying the subject so intently. (I am glad to know many people who delve into the Word and seek out its treasures.) She then reviewed a few references with some comments, but said, "The body really needs a fresh discussion on Grace." I have come to the conclusion that she is correct and that the Spirit desires to enlighten us all to the power of Grace.

Grace: the enabler

Zechariah 4:6-7
"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'
Says the LORD of hosts.
7'Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'"
Grace: OT:2580 chen (khane); from OT:2603; graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty): KJV - favour, grace (-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.

The grace of God is an enforcing factor in any situation. It is an overcoming factor against insurmountable odds. Integral to the Spirit is the operation of grace. It is not just "A Factor" in one's spiritual walk, it is "The Factor" assuring victory. Zechariah, who ministered about 520BC during the end of the leadership of Zerubbabel, received encouragement from the Lord. This first rebuilder of the Temple was told, "It is not by might or power, but by My Spirit."

The universality of that revelation is startling. When the efforts of man, doing the work of the Lord, run into to difficulties-this admonition rises to meet him. Man's effort apart from the will and leadership of the Lord do not possess this attribute. When Zerubbabel met opposition and mountains of oppression from both inside the camp (Israel abandoned building the Temple and began building homes for themselves) and outside the camp (surrounding tribes sought legal and illegal means to stop the work and were successful upon occasion), he must have entertained discouragement. Zechariah's words were edifying to him.

This word had great implication, not only for Zerubbabel, but for all those who are builders upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone. This passage assures the recipient that the task ahead will be accomplished and when it is, Grace will have carried it through. A Capstone soon will be laid for all ministry. Double Grace will be shouted when God's work is finished. It will be like the great grace which accompanied the early disciples, but double. Grace piled up on Grace. "Grace, Grace to it." Yes, those who observe its completion will shout that Grace did it! That is the shout now in the hearts of believers who truly know Him. They know anything that is accomplished in these perilous times is done by Grace.

Grace is not just a term applied to a believer's status at his conversion, it is a life force set within the heart. It is the Spirit enabling all the grace which worked in Christ to work in them! Double Grace comes to the forefront to be imparted. Its impartation is not just once and that for all, but a continuing, never ending stream alive in every activity of the saint.

How glibly Seminaries define grace. They state to the young theologians: "unmerited favor." Ah, grace is more than this. It is a life stream coming from the heart of God toward His saints in a never ending supply to the heart of the believer. Whatever the question, the answer is Grace. Whatever the need, the answer is Grace. Whatever the situation, the answer is Grace.

(Reread the definition above that Strong gives and keep reading it until the reality of it comes alive in your heart.)

The early church experienced something the modern church desperately needs.

Acts 4:37
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

The early disciples knew their source field: Great Power/Great Grace!

Until the believer understands this sequence, then all that can be expected of their labor is what man is able to accomplish apart from the Spirit. Grace is a force field where power can manifest itself. It is the uppermost consideration in the mind of the saints. Allowing grace to work within their hearts is the highway of righteousness for power to speed upon. (Sown into our hearts by the Spirit of Grace, we move in humble submission to Him. He is the Spirit of Grace.)

The Spirit of Grace

Zechariah 12:10
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.

Hebrews 10:29-31
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Both the Old and New Testament link inseparably the Holy Spirit and Grace. Zechariah's prophecies (one of the foundations upon which the spiritual Temple set forth in Ephesians is laid) looked into the future to the death of the Messiah and pointed to the huge spiritual implications of His redemptive submission. The Temple folk trampled the Son of God; They insulted the Holy Spirit of Grace.

Today, in great volume, churches, organizations and masses trample the Son of God and insult the Spirit of Grace! Having taken the "blood" out of redemption, moderates and liberals mask sin and bring in pagan deities. Conservative Christianity has done a little better. They include the "Blood of the Covenant," but make it 'common' and mundane. They insult the Spirit of grace who applies the precious (grace) blood to the believer on a daily basis as well as "once for all." Grace is dependant on reverence to the Spirit and the blood. They are treated in some "Spirit filled Churches" in ways close to blasphemy.

Thousands of Messianic groups fail also to see the connection between Zechariah's, "they will look upon Me whom they pierced" and the following passage. (Remember: Jehovah spoke this passage.) Few Messianic groups preach this passage:

John 1:14-17
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Or this passage:

Gal 5:4-6
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

It is all about Jesus. It is not law, feasts, observances or moons; It is Him and grace poured out through Him. "His fullness we have all received" is not the altar call of many groups. Grace poured on top of Grace is more than the double grace mentioned in the capstone, but it well may have been the chief definition of Zechariah's prophecy once Jesus came. What good is the truth without grace to implement it? Paul's epistle to the Jews is rife with this teaching.

Rom 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace...

Rom 5:1-2
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand...

(If the Old Testament meaning of grace (given above) is what the Greek translators sought to convey, then one must review the New Testament word they chose )

Grace NT:5485 charis (khar'-ece); from NT:5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):KJV - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

Living in the Fellowship of Grace:

1 Corinthians 1:4-9
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Cor 8:9
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Heb 2:9
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Grace is the basis for our fellowship, both with Him and with each other. The implementation of the gifts comes through this fellowship. All the gifts of the Spirit have one catalyst: Grace. Yes, we readily confess them as Grace Gifts, but move swiftly to anointings and giftings and away from the graciousness (that led to Calvary) that supplied them all for the edification of the saints. The moment one de-emphasizes Grace, the spotlight focuses on individual or corporate achievement. Our true fellowship is based on the fact that we are nothing apart from Him and His Grace. This is why we fall short in no gift! Let the church get the correct perspective and watch the body move in a power unknown to most moderns. Ephesians 1: 22-23 says, "gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." It is not Mary, full of grace and truth, it is Jesus. He fills His people with that which He is full.

Calling and Election Based on Grace:
If one is admonished to make his calling and election sure, then the place to begin is with Grace. There is a "different" gospel being preached today that was not the gospel preached by the disciples.

Acts 20:24
...to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Gal 1:6-9
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Romans 11:5-6
5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

(During the days of Elijah, Israel was preaching a gospel of Baal. But there were seven thousand that had allegiance to the true gospel of God. God reminded Elijah of His grace and power.) For any person to be "in Christ" the "election of grace" must take place. Salvation does not begin with a stroll down the aisle or a catechism.

Ephesians 2:8-11
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Note: "He prepared beforehand..." Those who throw out predestination had just as well put it back. Those who do not believe in the eternality of the spirit of man had best rush to the Throne. He knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb (Jeremiah). His grace was in action before we sinned. Look at Paul's testimony:

Galatians 1:15-16
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,

Gal 2:20-21
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God

1 Cor 15:10
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Tim 1:13-17
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gene Weismann asked the congregation, "Where was Adam before He was formed into a man?" Gene answered his own question: "He was in the heart of God." Then he asked, "Where were you before you were conceived?" He declared, "We were in the heart of God. We are eternal beings."

Gene went on to declare that God, through His Grace, has deposited in our hearts many things such as, prophecies, miracles and works of God, all of them stored in our hearts (and they have not been released.) He declared, "The church needs what you have..." "So many know the Word, but don't know the author of the Word. You can know the Bible backwards and forwards and go to Hell. Get to know the author...Fellowship with Him!" "Pour out the Grace Gifts to edify the church!"

Brother Weismann was searching the deep things of the Spirit and stirring his people to awaken to the grace poured out on them. Fallen Adam was deprived of fellowship and Jesus came to restore that fellowship by His grace. Instead of carrying grace gifts in a heart beaten down by the world and often the church, we were destined to reign through Jesus in THIS LIFE, by His Grace.

Romans 5:15-17
5 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

The great tragedy of life is not to reign and therefore receive grace in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
"In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

December 1 newsletter will return to the study of Grace...allow this entrance to sink deep and study it well.

Until Next month,

Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD.

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